---

PAGE THREE

PANEL ONE: MARK looks shocked over at Mr. STEPANOV who glances up from his paper but has no expression on his face; he just doesn’t care.

NARR:
I looked over at his Dad, but he only glanced at me and then went back to watching TV. He didn’t care!

PANEL TWO: MARK squirms in his chair, gritting his teeth, legs crossed and squeezing his crotch.

NARR:
So we kept playing, it was super uncomfortable for me to hold my bladder that long, but I managed it.

PANEL THREE: PAUL and KIM are standing, waving goodbye to MARK. PAUL has his arm around KIM. PAUL’s pants are drenched to the knees, as he has wet several times since we last saw him. He and Kim both look as if everything is normal.

NARR:
Finally we called an end to the evening; Paul stood up and he was soaking wet. He put his arm around Kim as we said goodnight and she didn’t even flinch; it was like this was totally normal for her.

PANEL FOUR: MARK opens his door to find MR. STEPANOV there.

NARR:
I thought I’d dodged a bullet and wouldn’t have to play with the big weirdo again, but the next day his Dad showed up at my door.

PANEL FIVE: MR. STEPANOV seems to be speaking intimidatingly to MARK, like a KGB agent terrorizing a snitch.

NARR:
He said it was nice of me to play with his son, because Paul didn’t have many friends. He said that Paul looked forward to the next game and that it meant a lot to him, and it would be a shame to disappoint him.

PANEL SIX: MARK looks terrified, afraid to lose his apartment!

NARR:
I realized he was threatening to kick me out if I didn’t play with his son!